Organic Gardening

Scratch beneath the surface of many gardeners’ bio - graphies and one finds inspiring people who influenced and  helped them realize their dreams. Sometimes these pivotal characters are responsible for imbuing a love of gardening; sometimes they are mentors to those who have already discovered a passion for horticulture. Often they are simply generous souls who, by contributing time and energy, help gardeners achieve their goals. A magic occurs when they also become one’s friends for life. Sheila Robertson, aka Orchard Annie, had left a lenghty commentary on one of my blogs. It was so comprenhensive that I reprinted it in a  blog post of its own . Then, I decided that I needed to know more about her. How did she come to amass such a body of practical gardening information ? Inspired by my curiosity, she submitted an informal autobiography in which she pays tribute to the men in her life that facilitated her journey. Serendipitously, inside her narrative, I discovered a romanti...

It's a sign that that spring is almost here when children’s bookstores display garden books in their storefront windows. On a trip to Boston this past weekend, I noticed that   The Childrens Book Shop   on Harvard Street, in Brookline, Massachusetts, has dedicated its entire streetfront display to the topic of gardening. Here are twelve books they selected along with publishers or sellers descriptive notes. Click on each image for more information, prices, and shopping. A Day At The Market , Sara Anderson.  Celebrate one glorious day of fresh flowers, fish, and produce at Seattle's Pike Place Market--a 100-year-old working farmer's market that steals the hearts of locals and visitors alike. With her signature cut-paper style and playful rhymes in a sturdy, oversized board book with peek-a-boo die-cuts, Sara Anderson captures the essence of the Market she treasures--not only its friendly cacophony, but also the richness of its colorful community, the secrets of its many n...

One of the hot topics in modern society is the study and appreciation of Bioluminescent plants. We've all seen the glowing green leaves of a profusion of moss along the edges of forest canopies. Many of us recognize daffodils with their blue-green iridescent foliage; or, perhaps, the striking blue-green spikes of Calendula, with their wafting tentacles. Even fungi command our attention with their fluorescent yellows and oranges that are characteristic of some species of the genus Mycoplasma. So, what are these creatures? The scientific community has only recently begun to truly appreciate the beauty of bioluminescent plants. The term "bioluminescent" (not "bioluminescent") refers to the ability of the plants to generate and emit light. There are typically four genes responsible for this process: the gene that produces the plant's chloroplast cells, the gene that produces the protein chlorophyll, and the genes that allow the photosynthesis of carbohydrates. T...